A day when two decisions resulted in right outcome

WHEN attempting to tell the story of a Royal Ascot afternoon so replete with drama as this one, the inevitable first question is, where do you start?

Before it all happened, the even bigger question was, would it start at all? For lovers of wonderful Flat racing, even when it comes with a squelch, thank goodness it did.

It was, without any doubt, a great Royal Ascot day for the poncho. There may be less unanimity over the assertion it was an equally great day for justice. To these eyes it was. That said, these eyes were also expecting us to be heading home early and back for a bumper ten-race Saturday card.

What we got instead turned out to be a rather welcome surprise – unless, that is, you happen to be part of the Dragon Symbol camp.

Back home in Japan, the colt’s owner Yoshiro Kubota was probably reading that the horse he bought off Oisin Murphy would be competing 22 hours and 50 minutes later than anticipated. Even early in the morning, clerk of the course Chris Stickels was admitting there was a risk to racing taking place. The rain had been plentiful, persistent and it was still pouring. An inspection was called, but even before it took place Ascot announced a provisional tenrace Saturday programme with blanket ITV coverage. The Commonwealth Cup had been handed a 2.30 off time.

This was heading only in one direction. Had Dragon Symbol also gone in only one direction his Group 1 glory may not have been forfeited.

Long before that, there was the strange sight of Luke Harvey walking alongside Tom Marquand and Hollie Doyle while wearing on his head a New Look carrier bag, completely ignoring the Royal Ascot dress code that insists only Fortnum & Mason bags can be used to protect one’s topper. A little while later, a large number of trainers and jockeys joined the formal inspection, including Aidan O’Brien and Richard Hannon, both in morning suits and no wellies.

Those waiting by the paddock got a strong hint we would have sport to enjoy when Murphy walked past with a thumb up. Almost immediately, social media began to fill with tweets that the inspection had been passed, prompting the unfailingly enthusiastic Rupert Bell to announce on Ascot’s closed circuit television and over the Tannoys that we would be racing.

As his words hit the air, cheers rang out around Ascot. “It’s the best reaction I’ve had in 30 years of broadcasting,” said Bell, although in the weighing room, where important people had not yet been informed of the inspection’s outcome, there was some confusion. “Where’s that come from?” asked one irked individual.

It was explained to him that the glad tidings had been revealed to paying customers by Rupert Bell.

“Who is Rupert Bell?!” asked the official, who was hopefully then told Bell is the father of the man who ITV viewers had seen interviewing the Duchess of Cornwall all week in a pair of inappropriate socks (his not hers).

Richard Johnson gave out the prizes following the opening Albany Stakes, which seemed appropriate, as this was jumping ground and jumping weather. So much took place over the following few hours that it’s easy to forget about Sandrine, but we should not, while we must definitely keep Alenquer fresh in our minds.

At home he can be a tricky character. On the racecourse he is a supremely likeable professional. The conqueror of subsequent Derby hero Adayar at Sandown is now an Ascot Derby winner himself. He will cover himself in glory in the coming months.

Rishi Persad was covered in a poncho and eating a slice of cake as for the second time in three hours we waited for the result of a vital deliberation. Dragon Symbol (Murphy) and Campanelle (Frankie Dettori) had treated us to a spectacle to savour, brilliantly and bravely powering clear through the Commonwealth Cup’s final furlong.

It was a magnificent race and it took place on desperately soft ground at Ascot, something critics of Qipco British Champions Day might care to remember. Perhaps next year there will be talk of having the inner Flat (hurdles) course on standby for these five days in June.

“Archie Watson, congratulations for the time being,” said Sky’s Hayley Moore to Dragon Symbol’s trainer. They proved to be prescient words. Dragon Symbol was disqualified. It was easy to argue he deserved to be.

When the reversal was announced, the defeated trainer immediately walked over to congratulate Wesley Ward and Campanelle’s entourage. Watson is not fond of the press and does not set out to win popularity contests, but in what must have been a painful moment he acquitted himself with real credit. So did his horse and so, too, did Jeff Smith’s adorable Alcohol Free, utterly sublime in the Coronation Stakes under Murphy, who had not stopped winning and later added the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes to his haul.

As the field for the Palace of Holyroodhouse Handicap went to post it was still raining. Thankfully, by then, there was far more than just the weather to discuss.